by Minerva Howe
“Oooh. You’re on your own, Eagan.” Ollie trotted off, leaving him with Tyson and Brand.
“Thrown under the bus again.” Eagan chuckled. “Come on.”
“What did you bring me?”
“Mmm. I have an entire box of old cut stones from a jeweler who went out of business and a double terminated tourmaline from an auction in California.”
“Oh. You know me, hmm? Keep an eye out for settings. I need all types as long as they’re vintage.”
“I know. I have feelers out for you.” He had tendrils all over from eBay to Sotheby’s.
“Thank you. Oh, ho! Books a plenty. And…” Tyson hooted. “Is that a stuffed dragon? It’s enormous.”
And pink.
“Oh, she’s going to be over the moon.” Brand chuckled softly. “She’s so quick.”
“And temperamental,” Tyson muttered.
“Have you been on the receiving end of tantrums?” Eagan asked.
“He told her no,” Brand said airily. “Heaven forfend.”
“You told our sweet girl no?”
Tyson nodded. “She was trying to eat a ruby. A big one.”
“That would have been bad,” Eagan agreed, hiding his smile.
“I wonder what she’ll hoard,” Brand mused. “She’s already quite possessive.”
“Stuffed animals? Baby dolls? Blocks?” Eagan suggested.
“She tried to eat the blocks,” Tyson murmured.
“Hmmm. Does that indicate a liking or disliking though?” Eagan was fascinated. Arielle did seem to be teething right on time, though.
“I think she gets frustrated. Her brain is moving faster than her body is.” Brand winked over. “Her first Yule is going to be amazing. You are coming, aren’t you?”
“Of course we are.” Eagan wouldn’t miss it. Yule had been so amazing the previous year, all of them together, and this year Ollie would be with him. A warm glow rose in his belly, and steam curled out of his nose.
“You’re caught through the balls,” Tyson said.
“I am. I think I’m wearing him down.” He winked, just loving the thought of Ollie giving in and living with him full time.
“Devon is over the moon at the thought,” Brand admitted. “Oliver is dear to him.”
“He is. They have a lot in common.” He gave Brand an arch look. “More than I was aware.”
“Yes? Devon says Oliver’s worried. Does he not have to be?”
“Not at all. In fact, I think he needs to stop worrying so much.” Oliver was perfect. Simply perfect. He’s been made for this—for loving Eagan.
“Good, good.” Tyson went by carrying the turntable tabletop reading stand from the 1850s that he’d gotten for Devon.
Brand beamed at him. “It’s gorgeous. Thank you, brother.”
“Of course.” He paused, winked. “It’s not for you.”
“Oh, but it will go in our library. So I get to see and use it.” Brand laughed and laughed. Heavens, it was good to see him so happy.
“I brought books for her, and a number of the current bestsellers for you.”
“Mmmm. I’ll put those in the reading nook in the kitchen. Devon and Lyle read them too.” Lyle was back on the job now that Devon was fully in control of his dragon and Arielle had stopped…nibbling.
“Uncle Eagan! Look who I have for you.” Devon came out carrying his own beautiful little bundle of niece-joy. She looked adorable in her wee onesie, kicking and reaching for him.
“Hello, my angel girl.” Eagan took her, pleased at how solid and sturdy she felt.
She came to him immediately, the buzz of joy coming from her like touching a live wire. “Whoa. That’s strong.”
“She’s amazing.” Brand touched her back, which added to the zing.
“She is. She’s perfect.” Goddess, she was lovely. Utterly gorgeous and brave and brilliant.
She patted his chest, talking to him a mile a minute, completely unintelligible.
“I see. Uncle Tyson is so mean, hmm?”
“The meanest,” Tyson agreed. “I don’t let her eat anything. I make her listen to me sing.”
“Oh, no! Ollie is a good singer, did you know?” He tucked her against his chest. “I brought you books, my sweet.” He walked inside, leaving Tyson and Brand and taking Devon along with him. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Very good. It’s been a lovely, warm summer. Lots of sun, lots of flying. How’s Denver?”
“Bustling. The air quality has been a little bad, though, and Ollie’s allergies are acting up.” He hated it when Ollie suffered. “Where is my mate?”
“Getting you both a glass of water and putting out pastries on a plate.”
“Ah.” Ollie did love to do for people. “And what have you been up to besides eating jewels, angel?”
“Oh, she’s been practicing her crawling and her kicking and her rolling. She’s been learning how to scream when she’s mad. She’s got four teeth.”
“Four! Look at you.” He bounced her and danced in a circle, humming a waltz.
She jabbered happily, cooing and murmuring for him, telling him everything about her dads and her uncle and her little, wonderful life.
He wanted one. Rather desperately. Her little scales shone when she moved her face just so, and then she was showing him her frontmost tooth.
“Oh, isn’t that lovely. Have you been sharpening it against Uncle Tyson’s horde, my gorgeous little love?”
Her laughter just rang out.
They wended their way to the kitchen, where Ollie was dancing about, humming. He had water and pastry and was making a big pot of tea. “Look what I brought, love.”
“My best girl. Can I have another kiss?” Ollie asked, leaning down to offer his cheek.
Both Ari and Eagan kissed it.
“Aww… My two favorite people on earth.” Oliver beamed at them. “I’m making tea.”
“I see that. We got teething biscuits at the bakery, Devon. I think she’ll quite like them. Ollie and I split one for research.”
Devon chortled. “If it passed you two chowhounds’ seal of approval, she’ll love them.”
“They taste of brown sugar, mostly, but not too sweet.”
“Wonderful. Thanks, you guys.” Devon gave Ollie a quick hug. “Oh, it’s so good to see you.”
Ollie nodded and grinned wide. “I’ve missed you too. I have so much to tell you, but we have days to chat, right?”
“We do. Hours and hours. Did they tell you I got an auction full of books?” Devon hooked arms with Ollie while Eagan grabbed an apple turnover.
“Did you start without us?” Brand asked. “It’s all in the parlor. You can sort it out with us in a bit.”
“Afraid all the pastry will be gone?” Eagan teased.
“More like know it will,” Tyson rumbled.
“We brought a lot. The chocolate croissants were like magic.” Oliver laughed and they all went to the parlor with tea and goodies. “I love the random baby things all about the house.”
“She will not be contained,” Brand stated. “Imagine when she’s really walking. Or running.”
“Or flying,” Devon said wryly.
“That we will control.”
Eagan nodded. Dragonets had to understand they never tried to fly alone. They could so easily get injured or killed at the age they started flying.
“Oh wow. I mean, do you know when that happens? When she gets wings?” Oliver seemed to be a wild mixture of curiosity and jealousy.
“Nothing that will work for a few more years.”
“Which gives me time to get better at it,” Devon said, grinning. “I mean, it’s a rush, but I crash land about half the time.”
“Your brain moves faster than your body still, love.” Brand gave his mate a fond look.
“Yeah, well—I’m not the best at this whole thing. I’m okay, but that’s it. Just okay.”
“You’re amazing for someone learning as an adult,” Tyson said, then shrugged when ever
yone stared. “What? He is.”
“Thank you, Tyson.” Devon put a hand on big brother’s arm, which made him blush.
Oliver watched the interaction with a smile, then leaned hard against Eagan’s arm, cuddling hard.
He kissed the top of Oliver’s head. “Thank you for making tea, my love. You picked a wonderful one for the turnovers.”
“I thought it went with the scones, too.”
“Scones?” Tyson perked up. “Where?”
Oliver chuckled and turned the plate. “We brought cranberry white chocolate, blueberry, and lemon.”
“Oh, glorious Ollie. Thank you.” Tyson grabbed one in each hand, eschewing the tea in favor of munching away at the pastries.
“So, the way to Tyson’s heart is a scone?”
Ari crowed for them, obviously arguing that it was, of course, her. Obviously. She was Tyson’s one and only.
“Love, you have all the pieces of my heart not locked away in ice and crystal,” Tyson declared poetically. “My best and most lovely girl.”
Ah, they had made up. Excellent.
Arielle cooed and wriggled, singing to Tyson, and it was almost so clear. She was so smart.
“Can you understand her, Ty?” he asked.
“Sometimes, yes. When she’s being her most adamant. You’ll see. It’s harder when she’s singing like this.” Tyson munched his scones in huge bites. “Happiness is less focused. Fury is direct.”
“Isn’t she tiny for fury?” Oliver asked, wide-eyed. He’d seen her have a tantrum, but did she really ramp up that far?
“See, that’s what I asked!” Devon winked at Ollie.
“We’re an awful lot of magic constrained by a relatively small body,” Eagan explained, stroking Ollie’s arm. “Like my occasional bouts of jealousy. Strong emotion can be too big to contain sometimes, and at her age…”
“She’s like a baby rattlesnake. All the venom of the full-sized beast, none of the patience. Sometimes it comes out in fire. I keep an extinguisher handy.” Dev snapped his teeth closed with a grin.
“Oops. Like that baby in The Incredibles.” Ollie laughed, though, and grabbed a bite of his turnover. “And you have to have two of those?”
“Nah. I think Tyson’s mate should have at least three.” Devon grinned. “Maybe four.”
Eagan could feel Oliver’s cheeks heat beside him, almost burning his arm. Someone didn’t want to think about mates and babies.
He didn’t make it obvious he knew. That would only draw attention to Ollie’s discomfort. Eagan so wished he could reassure his love.
Eagan wanted children, but he needed Oliver, craved him every moment. Oliver had to believe that, and it would take time for that belief to form.
Good thing Eagan could be infinitely patient when he needed to be. With great patience came great reward. He knew it.
“Come sit with me, love. I need more than a nibble.” He filled a plate for them and moved to sit at the kitchen table, pulling Ollie into his lap.
Oliver pinked, but his lover was pleased, Eagan could tell.
“Scone or cherry tart?” Ollie asked.
“Oh, a little tart is perfect.”
“Oliver’s always been a little tart…” Dev teased.
“He has.”
Tyson snorted. “You all make me ill.”
Oliver looked over at Tyson, then his mate reached over and hugged his older brother. “I don’t know how to help, but I will if I can.”
“I know you will, Ollie.” Tyson kissed Ollie’s cheek. “You’re a good man.”
“I want to be. I want to be part of this family.”
“You are.” Tyson just beamed, then grabbed another scone. “So good.”
His brother warmed his heart.
Devon rolled his eyes. “I told you, Ollie. You’re all good.”
Ollie shared a rather tremulous smile. “I’m trying.”
“We’ll all help,” Brand said. “This is very good tea.”
Arielle burped as if agreeing.
“Wow. Wow, that was grand.” Eagan applauded her, so amused.
“Oh, heavens, little girl.” Devon took her from Brand, who Eagan had handed her off to, and bounced her, patting her back.
She gazed at her father, her little scales growing darker, the adoration there obvious, amazing.
Brand kissed her nose, making her squeal.
Ollie made a soft sound, and he looked at his lover, who wore a wistful expression. “Too bad you can’t adopt dragon babies.”
“Devon was adopted,” Eagan pointed out. “We’ll look into it.”
Not that they would need to. He was convinced.
Oliver chuckled softly. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“We will.” He fed Ollie another bite, then snarfed down half a scone.
Once they were all fed, they went back to the parlor to dole out gifts.
They had books and furniture, toys and yummies from the city. In return, there was a huge pile of books for Oliver, and a lovely set of bookends and an antique spinning wheel for him.
“How lovely! In such good condition, too!”
“Oh, wow. Dean Koontz. Thanks, Dev.” Oliver curled up with one of the books, admiring it.
He, in turn, admired his mate. Brand chuckled next to him. “Oh, brother, he’s so sweet. But so convinced you’re wrong.”
“Yes, but I’m not. I know it.”
“Well, stay the course then. He’ll see the truth of it.” Brand clapped him on the back.
Ollie was utterly engrossed in his gift.
“That’s my plan. Love him and believe. It will happen.” Maybe this solstice. Hopefully. Eagan would take it day by day.
“It’s a good plan. And if it doesn’t for a bit, you know you love him, and he loves you.”
“Exactly.” Ollie was the one for him. He would never deny that or question Ollie’s love for him.
“Are you two conspiring without me?” Tyson asked.
“Nope. I do love the spinning wheel.” He knew Tyson had a hand in that too, because the thing gleamed, and all the parts were oiled and cleaned.
“It’s a lovely specimen. I thought you could put it in the art room.”
“I can. It will be very nice there.” And he might learn to use it again. He’d known how once upon a time, and he’d spun fine gold and silver threads for Tyson’s work. He’d found it incredibly relaxing, once upon a time.
“Good, good.” Brand grinned suddenly. “Why don’t you and Ollie go settle in? Arielle will need a nap soon.”
“Please. I put you in your usual rooms, Eagan.” Devon winked at him. “Fresh sheets, windows open.”
“Thank you. You’re both loves.” He went to Ollie, lifting him, book and all, right out of his chair. “Let’s go freshen up.”
Oliver blinked up, offering him a warm, adoring smile. “You’re carrying me, dragon.”
“I am. We’ve been offered the chance to escape to our room for a bit. I think we ought to take it.” He kissed Ollie’s cheek, moving faster.
“Mmm… You do have lovely rooms here.” Oliver was wanting and snuggly against him. Almost rubbing them together.
“We do. I love how you look on the bed.” He also loved when Ollie wiggled and blushed just like that.
“Are you seducing me in your brother’s house, dragon?”
“I am. But at least this is our bed.” Even if they had guests, Brand wouldn’t let anyone else stay in this room. This was a sanctuary, the big half tester bed so cozy and wonderful.
A place to hide together.
“It is.” The bedroom was mostly windows, the bed situated so that you could see whatever you needed to see.
The view never failed to thrill him, and he set Ollie on the bed, admiring the lean lines of him as he stretched.
“I love this view.”
“The mountains are spectacular, and…” He glanced at Ollie, who was looking at him. “Oh, sweet boy. Would you like to see more?” he offer
ed, tugging off his sweater.
“I want to see it all, E.” Oliver’s gaze dragged over him, eating him up.
“Then it’s yours.” Eagan kicked out of his shoes easily, but made a slow, long show of taking off his pants.
“Mmm…sexy.” Oliver cupped his still clothed cock. “I approve.”
“I do too.” He looked pointedly at Oliver’s hand. “Always. You make me hard, love.” Anticipation rode him hard.
“I want to make you ache. I need your cock.”
“I want you too. I want to fill you.” Eagan advanced, hunting his mate, even though Ollie wasn’t running from him.
Oliver wiggled and stretched out, legs spreading.
“Mmm. Open up, love. Unzip, hmm?” He stopped by the bed, his cock curving up, feeling heavy and so hard already. The fever was on him for the equinox, and that always made things so much more intense. His balls felt full. Heavy.
“I can do that.” Ollie unzipped and stroked his cock, up and down, before wriggling out of his clothes.
His mouth went dry, his dragon roaring in his head. At least he hoped that wasn’t out loud. Since Ollie didn’t slap both hands over his ears, he thought he was fine.
He moved closer, reaching for his mate, one knee on the bed.
Oliver reached for him, flushed and needy. “Here dragon, dragon, dragon.”
He chuffed out a laugh, steam pouring from his nose. “Don’t taunt the big dragon, my love. I might eat you up.” He placed a hand low on Ollie’s belly, loving how Ollie’s hands slid over him. The way Ollie touched him never ceased to be a wonder.
“I’m not scared. Excited? Yes. Turned on? Fuck yeah. Not scared. You can bite.”
“Mmmm. Good.” He would nip. That way there would be marking, but no damage. Eagan could smell Ollie’s desire, and his tongue ached to taste the drops of precome already escaping Ollie’s slit.
Oliver’s dragon was sensing the solstice as well, the pheromones pouring off him in waves, drawing Eagan closer. Ollie was going the slow and careful route, unlike Devon, but the scent was unmistakable, as was the moisture when he slid a hand under Ollie’s ass. His lover’s body was readying itself for him.
He’d known it would happen, had seen more and more evidence of late including the rush of wet when they made love.
Ollie tugged at him, and Eagan lowered down and rubbed full length along Ollie’s body.
